Devilprince
17-08-2010, 20:41
The UFC has confirmed that Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipovic has stepped in to replace Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira against Frank Mir at UFC 119 on September 25th.
Fighters Only broke the news of Nogueira’s withdrawal - and his replacement by Filipovic - at the weekend, and bout agreements have now being signed.
Filipovic spoke to Croatian media today, telling them in a short statement “I am aware that I am not going to be 100 per cent for this fight because in this sport five weeks notice is basically last minute notice.
“But I know the UFC had no other solution (ie no other big-name replacement available) and so I could not refuse the owner of the UFC, who has made me financially secure, or the UFC fans, who I do not want to disappoint.”
Nogueira, the former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion and UFC interim heavyweight champion, has revealed that he is to undergo surgery on both hips and will be out for around four months, pegging him for an early 2011 return.
Fighters Only Magazine - The World's Greatest MMA Magazine - News - UFC confirms CroCop vs Mir, CroCop issues short statement (http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=5090)
Fighters Only broke the news of Nogueira’s withdrawal - and his replacement by Filipovic - at the weekend, and bout agreements have now being signed.
Filipovic spoke to Croatian media today, telling them in a short statement “I am aware that I am not going to be 100 per cent for this fight because in this sport five weeks notice is basically last minute notice.
“But I know the UFC had no other solution (ie no other big-name replacement available) and so I could not refuse the owner of the UFC, who has made me financially secure, or the UFC fans, who I do not want to disappoint.”
Nogueira, the former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion and UFC interim heavyweight champion, has revealed that he is to undergo surgery on both hips and will be out for around four months, pegging him for an early 2011 return.
Fighters Only Magazine - The World's Greatest MMA Magazine - News - UFC confirms CroCop vs Mir, CroCop issues short statement (http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=5090)